Melanoma screening: results of the first one-day campaign in Belgium ('melanoma Monday').

Background: Although the incidence of melanoma is increasing and many informative campaigns have been organized. The general population is still little informed about this tumour.

Aims: To organize a media campaign, with more relevant information and the opportunity for free skin inspections.

Methods: A 'Task Force' organized a media campaign in April 1999 and convinced 65% of the Belgian dermatologists to give up 4 h of their time to do free skin examinations for skin cancer on Monday 26 April 1999; it was called 'Melanoma Monday'.

Results: A total 2767 patients were screened. We found 25 melanomas and suspected 59 basal cell carcinomas. In the following 4 weeks another 141 melanomas were found. These 166 melanomas found in one month represent 15-20% of the total number of melanomas per year in Belgium.

Summary: A media campaign with relevant information combined with screening opportunities can lead to the early detection of melanomas in a large number of patients and can continue to alert people at risk in the following weeks.